Wow...!!!
 

Pete:

This is a really beautiful piece. Is it in its original finish?

Sieger

The colour 'gold', either real or fake.. has never been beautiful in my eyes.. I guess most people disagree with me on that, since it's such a big hit around in the world. But a swiss golden Luger sure is unique!

Btw. since I never have given any jewelry in gold to my wife, just silver, I have probably saved quite a bit of money.. wich is likely to have gone down down my Luger/hunting/fishing drain by now :icon501:

Hi Bob,

I am/was hoping our LF member Mauro might be able to tell us if it is an original finish offered by Mauser or not...

Either way, the application of this finish is done well.

Gun would look great in an Austin Powers movie or a James Bond movie...

It is cheaper than some normal interarms lugers.

Jerry

Parabellum Finish
 

Hi:

Are my 51 year old eyes deceiving me, or is there no finish on the pistol at all, other than the strawed parts?

It looks like the bare metal has been slightly polished in spots, the barrel for instance, other parts slightly "blasted", the safety area for instance.

Nice job.

James Bond's latest girlfriend should be the one carrying the Luger. Ha!

Sieger

P.S. In the new movie, maybe the actor "Jaws" could bite the Luger in half!!

In accordance to the information I have collected so far, Mauser didn't produce a complete gold plated Luger.
It is possible to find engraved pistols or Chromed pistols with the small items gold plated.

It was possible to ask Mauser for customized pistol with different kind of finishing therefore it is not possible to exclude a priori that somebody asked for a pistol like this.

In any case, my personal opinion is that this finishing is not original for the simple reason that for the customized model Mauser asked plenty of money and the gun was released with a certificate. This certificate is the only evidence that the pistol has been gold finished by Mauser. I guess very rare that a collector lost the certificate and then sell the gun with cheap price like this.
This is my only my speculation therefore I could be wrong.

Have fun,
Mauro

In a weird kind of way: I like it!

Careful my friend, the dark side is calling you.

Looks like the dark side called three times, at least... :D

Here is the James Bond girl that needs that gun for her outfit :


http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/gold_dame.jpg

I'm inclined to believe that it is original finish simply because of the sharpness of the lettering and stamps.

SteveM

I did see a similar finish on a Mauser-Interarms LP-08 for sale about 3 years ago in the "Traders" gun shop in Alemeda/Oakland, CA...

(This shop is now closed as it had BATF-problems with their gun sales and their BATF paper-work not matching up on several thousands of guns over the years...)

That LP-08 commemorative had the identical "gold" finish but was with a factory-case.

It was noted as "Not For Sale In California"...as it was not on the C&R List and/or not on the CA State DOJ "drop test" list.

Gold finish was the same as this one from Cabelas.

Nice Outfit
 

Hi:

Nice outfit!!

Sieger

This one was interesting

it looked VERY close to being a factory quality job
I was surprised at the crispness of the markings
only the FBM proofs looked over polished

but - some detail looked like post factory job

and - as in Pete's recent shared pdf , some clues were there

some rear toggle recoil lug ear marks on frame , marks looked plated over and looked like maybe 200 rounds or so thru the gun

small dent mark on front strap , also plated over

grips looked worn , as if used as a shooter

very odd part of story was the rear toggle to slide pin that was apparently hammered into the slide , pin exit side flange was about 50% shattered away , and small side of pin looked friction pounded into the slide
so my guess is the gold plate increased the pin diameter and someone got impatient

no wear / discoloration on the breech face from firiing , so fired before the plating

magazine scratches from usage plated over

so overall was likely a superb gold plate over standard shooter

Cabellas was very cooperative in the inspection process , the Buda TX store library is good place to look at stuff

I think it could be purchased for less than $1K

but really accurate superb pictures , it is all gold plated , inside and out , probably a good goldfinger girl gun if you want to make her happy !

Bill

Hello guys,
Let me add two more considerations.

1) This pistol has been made in 1972, the LP08 commemorative in 1986 therefore it means that 14 years of difference. If we want to think about a set of pistol made in this configuration they must be close in term of year of production.
2) I have seen several Mauser Parabellum brand new and the three firing test they made in Mauser are in any case enough to create a trace on the back of the frame where the toggle stops. If you look at the picture this part of the frame seems completely new.

I donâ??t know, I am a fun of the Mauser Parabellum but this gun still not convince completely me.

The price is cheap therefore it is possible to take the risk.

Have fun.
Mauro

Bill,

Thanks for taking a look in-person at this piece !

Looks like more of us agree about the girl than the gun...;)